Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kimberly-clark Corporation

Mark Gordon Heath

Thomas Harold Roessler

Paul Theodore Van Gompel

Daniel Robert Schlinz

Geoffrey Walter Frost

Eric Donald Johnson

Clifford Jackson Ellis

Lorry F Sallee

Rob David Everett

Joseph Andrew Mlinar

Michael A Snyder

Daniel R Laux

Thomas George Olsen

Thomas M Killian

David F Bishop

James Louis Cahall

John T Hahn

Timothy Alan French

Maria E Signoret

The present invention provides a process for making an elastomeric web. Generally stated, the process includes moving a first web (26) along an appointed machine-direction (28) of the process, and delivering a plurality of elastomeric strands (30) moving along the machine-direction. The elastomeric strands (30) have been elastomerically stretch to an elongation of at least about 50 percent, and the plurality of elastomeric strands (30) have been laterally distributed along an appointed cross-direction (32) of the process. The elastomeric strands (30) are positioned at a spaced distance (34) from the first web (26), and an adhesive is applied to the elastomeric strands (30) and the first web (26) while the elastomeric strands are at the spaced distance (34) from the first web (26). A second web (36) is laminated to the first web (26) with the elastomeric strands (30) sandwiched between the first and second webs to provide an elastomeric laminate, composite web (24) attached together with the adhesive. The composite web (24) is allowed to elastomerically contract lengthwise by at least about 3 percent, and the composite web (24) undergoes a traverse winding into a roll.

Method and apparatus for making an elastomeric laminate web

A method and apparatus for making an elasticized article includes a delivering mechanism for supplying a substrate web having a longitudinal direction and a lateral cross-direction. A first connecting mechanism attaches an inboard elastic member to said substrate web, and a second connecting mechanism attaches an outboard elastic member to the substrate web, with the outboard elastic member located laterally outboard of the inboard elastic member. A dividing mechanism separates away a portion of the substrate web and a portion of the outboard elastic member to thereby provide a set of elastics which are arranged in a staggered overlapping relation.

Apparatus for making an absorbent article with asymmetric leg elastics

Method for making an absorbent article with asymmetric leg elastics

Generally stated, the present invention provides a distinctive absorbent article which includes a backsheet layer and an absorbent retention portion which is superposed on the backsheet layer. The retention portion has a length and a width, and has laterally opposed side edges thereof and longitudinally opposed end edges thereof. A surge management portion is located adjacent a bodyside surface of the retention portion. The surge management portion is constructed to temporarily hold received liquid and release the liquid to the retention portion. The surge management portion has a width, opposed side edges thereof and opposed end edges thereof, and has a length thereof which is less than the length of the retention portion. The end edges of the surge management portion are located longitudinally inboard from the end edges of the retention portion. A porous topsheet layer is disposed in facing relation with the backsheet layer to sandwich the retention portion and the surge management portion between the backsheet layer and the topsheet layer. The topsheet layer has marginal regions thereof attached to marginal regions of the backsheet layer. The attached marginal regions of the topsheet and backsheet layers are located laterally outboard of the side edge regions of the surge management portion. A surfactant material is applied to a medial section of the topsheet layer to provide a greater wettability of the medial section, as compared to a remainder of the topsheet layer. The medial section has a width which is substantially not more than the width of the surge management portion.

Absorbent article having an improved surge management

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for forming a composite web having selected discrete pocket regions which are distributed on a carrier layer and contain high-absorbency material. The invention includes a pattern chamber having opposed side walls, an entrance end wall and an exit end wall. A particulate supplying mechanism provides particles of high-absorbency material into the pattern chamber, and a web supplying mechanism provides a gas permeable carrier layer. A foraminous forming mechanism moves the carrier layer through the pattern chamber, and the forming mechanism includes a pattern of openings which are formed therethrough and are arranged to provide for a selected pattern of the discrete pocket regions. A vacuum supplying mechanism provides a selected level of relatively low gas pressure at an underside region of the forming mechanism to produce a selected gas-flow through the carrier layer and the foraminous forming mechanism to form the pocket regions. A covering mechanism provides a layer of liquid-permeable covering material to sandwich said pocket regions of high-absorbency material between said carrier layer and said covering layer.

Apparatus and method for the zoned placement of superabsorbent material

Growing community of inventors

Butte des Morts, WI, United States of America

Mark Gordon Heath